Advice from Craemill Veterinary Clinic on choosing your new dog

Choosing a new companion for the family can be an exciting time but you need to try and match your pet with your current lifestyle and surroundings.

Here are a few things to consider:

Male or female, puppy or adult

This depends on many things and is best discussed with experienced dog owners, your veterinary surgeon and breeders from whom you may consider purchasing a puppy.

Size

Does your choice of dog, in relation to its size,suit your home, car, children and exercise plans, and suit friends or family that might look after it during the holidays? Large dogs generally have a shorter life span, and cost more to feed, kennel, insure and medically treat than smaller ones.

Coat length and type

Do you mind spending hours grooming and cleaning your dog and your house, or do you want a low-maintenance breed? Some dog breeds have a strong smell while others dribble a lot! Can you live with these things?

Health

There are no naturally unhealthy pedigree dog breeds but there are breeds in which certain conditions tend to occur more frequently. Contact Craemill Veterinary Clinic to speak to one of the veterinary surgeons if you have any questions regarding your choice of breed.

Temperament

Some dogs are bred for looks, others for their working ability, and the result is that you get a whole range of temperaments in between. Which one is right for you depends on many variables so get expert help on your intended pedigree dog breed and be very careful about where you buy your puppy.

Buying two dogs together

Rearing two puppies successfully takes an enormous amount of work, as you have to rear them separately, and give them each individual quality time, space, exercise and training, so it is not for the faint hearted or busy dog owner.

Existing dogs

If you have an existing dog and would like to buy a companion for it, consider the fact that many dogs prefer being the only dog in the family, and resent sharing their space, humans, attention, toys and treats with other dogs. If you do want another dog, a good age gap is about four or five years. If you are not sure how your dog will feel about it, ‘borrow’ a friend’s dog for a few days to get a rough idea.

Asthmatics and allergy sufferers

If you are asthmatic or have an allergy, you should consult your medical advisor before considering obtaining a dog. Studies have shown that dog hair or dog skin can induce asthma attacks and other related respiratory problems as well as certain allergies, and indeed the advice of Asthma UK is that it is probably better not to have a dog at all.

Dog groups

Gundogs eg. Retriever, Spaniels, Setters like to work closely with people and so are usually sociable, willing to please and easy to train. They can be boisterous if they do not get enough exercise but are enthusiastic toy players and very good dogs for an active family. They are tolerant and playful with children if raised with them

Hounds - scent hounds include the Beagle and Bloodhound - sight hounds include the Whippet and Greyhound - hounds were bred to track and hunt prey animals an may not be good with small pets unless they have grown up with them. They can be independent and disobedient but are not really interested in toys and can be difficult to train, tending to run off when they see something interesting to chase. They need long, energetic walks to use up their tremendous energy and desire to run. They are usually happy to relax at home, appearing lazy when there is nothing to do

Pastoral

eg. Collies, Old English Sheepdogs, Samoyeds - hard working and need plenty of exercise for their minds and bodies and great toy players. They are alert, active watch dogs, but it can also result in noise phobias if they are not accustomed to loud noises early in life. they can be nervous if not socialised and habituated to enough experiences as puppies. They are easily trained, enjoying close physical contact with plenty of stroking and fuss and have strong guarding instincts. They need adequate socialisation to prevent aggression

Terriers

eg. Westie, Scottie, Kerry Blue, Border Terrier tend to have very strong predatory instincts and can be dangerous around small pets unless they have grown up with them. They will chase and may injure cats unless they have been raised with them. They often have strong characters and a busy, excitable nature which can be very charismatic. They are easily alerted and can make very good watch dogs, although for some owners, their inclination to bark can be annoying. Aggression to other dogs is a common trait among terrier breeds. They can also be stubborn and unwilling to respond to commands unless there is something in it for them but they are usually affectionate and outgoing

Toys

eg. Bichon Frise, Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, Pug - usually very agreeable, mild-mannered and enjoy companionship. They are willing to please but may not be as quick to learn or responsive as the working dogs. They are very keen on close contact with their owners and enjoy plenty of fuss and attention. They are a good choice for novice owners. They are small in height which makes them ideal for owners without much space, but renders them prone to health problems so check carefully before buying to reduce the risk of inherited diseases

Working

eg. Boxer, Great Dane, St. Bernard - guarding breeds have strong characters and are often best with owners who are strong natural leaders. They require a lot of exercise to keep them relaxed. Some of the giant breeds are too big for too much exercise in one session

Utility - this group consists of miscellaneous breeds of dog mainly of a non-sporting origin, including the Bulldog, Dalmatian, Japanese Akita and Poodle. This group consists of an extremely mixed and varied bunch, most breeds having been selectively bred to perform a specific function not included in the sporting and working categories.

Also, don't forget about mongrels or crossbreeds. These usually have a mixture of characteristics and may be a good alternative to pedigree dogs with their strong traits and inherited diseases.

Please feel free to contact Craemill Veterinary Clinic on one of the numbers below with any of your queries or to book into one of their puppy parties.

Coagh, Cookstown, Magherafelt - 028 8673 7202, 028 8676 6444 or 028 7930 1899. Visit the website www.craemillvets.com.